Close calls but cars make it to show

If he had not decided to stop for a break in Wellington and take the next ferry, the driver of a truck transporting a Ferrari and a McLaren to the Queenstown Auto Extravaganza would have been unloading the luxury cars in central Christchurch as the quake struck, organiser Jeff Williams said.

Despite the event being affected by the disaster, he said he was "thrilled" with the three-day motoring festival, which raised money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

"A Christchurch resident who was very shaken by the quake said we could come up and get his car even though it was dirty and dusty - as a gesture to show they really wanted to have it in the show.

"The 2010 Mercedes SLS Gull-wing went on to win the people's choice award," Mr Williams said.

Featuring hundreds of vintage and modern classic cars and incorporating the 1/8 mile Dalefield sprints, the "Salon of Style", a Wakatipu cruise and a "What's in your garage?" display of owner's cars, the event "went off very well", he said.

It finished yesterday with the Dalefield sprints.

Money from the extravaganza's fundraising auction at Queenstown Memorial Hall had not yet been tallied but it was understood some of the showcased items fetched premium prices under the auctioneer's hammer.